HALIFAX - NDP MP Nathan Cullen said he's "doubling down" on the idea of joining forces with the Liberals in the next election, moments after a debate during which he came under fire from his party leadership rivals over the contentious proposal.

In a rare show of sparks between the leadership candidates, the British Columbia politician found himself on the defensive Sunday after Thomas Mulcair, Peggy Nash and Martin Singh slammed the idea.

"Why don't you think it's enough to get progressives to rally around our banner?" Mulcair asked Cullen during the debate in Halifax.

"Why would you shoot for the bronze medal when you know that Canadians share our goals, share our vision?"

Nash said the proposal would strip Canadians of their democratic right to vote for the party of their choice.

"We had a historic breakthrough in the last election. Why not build on that?" the Toronto MP said, generating a round of applause from the audience at Citadel High School.

"Let's not look at a rear-view mirror."

In response, Cullen said his ultimate goal is to oust the federal Conservatives from power and bring in a proportional representation voting system if he were elected prime minister.

"Let's all recognize the thing that we know: that the current voting system we have in this country is broken and flawed," he said.

"No one can question my faith in this party. No one can question my work ethic over the last number of years in building up in places that we thought we had no hope."

Cullen has said he would allow local NDP riding associations to decide whether it's in their interest to hold joint nomination meetings with other parties in Tory-held ridings.

After the debate, Cullen said he would not back down.

"In fact, we're doubling down on it," he told reporters, though he added he is not "married to the details."

"The particulars of how this thing happens — it can happen in many different ways."

In another heated moment at the debate, Ottawa MP Paul Dewar asked Mulcair to clarify his position on the sale of bulk water. Mulcair said he is in favour of protecting water resources and opposed to exporting it.

"But you know ... that's my position," said Mulcair, a former minister of environment in Quebec.

Niki Ashton, Brian Topp and Romeo Saganash are also vying to replace the late Jack Layton.

Each of the contenders took turns attacking the federal Conservative record on health and pensions in what could be a prelude for what to expect when the House of Commons returns Monday.

Topp, a former NDP president, called Prime Minister Stephen Harper a hypocrite for saying he supported families while "kicking them in the shins" with proposed changes to Old Age Security.

The Tories have said they want to ensure OAS remains sustainable, but haven't confirmed speculation they will raise the eligibility age to 67 from 65.

Other debates every two weeks are planned in Quebec City, Winnipeg, Montreal and Vancouver. NDP members will choose their new leader on March 24 at a convention in Toronto.

Layton died of cancer last August just months after leading the NDP to 103 seats and official Opposition status for the first time in the party's history.

all-related-on-huffpost

Close



NDP Leadership 5 - What does the party need to do to win the next election?

of





This is a question I get from party members everywhere I go. New Democrats want to win in 2015. And they want to know that the candidates have a plan to win and then to govern well. I believe that the key to winning is to offer a clear and positive social democratic agenda for change. We don't have to become Liberals to win. We don't have to defeat ourselves even as we win by adopting the priorities and agendas of our opponents -- by becoming what we are fighting to change.
And we don't have to borrow from the Conservative playbook by practicing the cynical politics of division and anger. For every criticism we make of or opponents, we have to offer a positive solution in its place. In my campaign I have offered a series of detailed proposals to improve the fairness of our tax system and I will be releasing major policy initiatives aimed at building a more equal, greener and just Canada. In the end, New Democrats win by staying positive, by offering a clear and practical agenda for change, and by having the courage of our convictions.

We have a duty to reach out to all progressive forces in our society, so that we can not only oppose the Conservatives, but replace them.
As Jack Layton wrote in his final letter to Canadians, we have to present them with a "compelling new alternative" if we're going to form Canada's first social democratic government. For the first time, Canadians can now vote for the fair and progressive society they have always aspired to have. And we must be the political party that offers Canadians that alternative.

Our challenge will be to connect the fair-mindedness that defines Canadians with concrete government action. To connect passion for a better world with the political will to get us there.
As the leader of our party I can make it clear to Canadians that we can manage the economy, that we can work with key economic sectors to grow investment, to grow innovation and to grow the good green jobs of tomorrow. We will need to show Canadians that they can trust social democrats to create wealth, not just money. Social democratic governments around the world have done it, several Canadian provinces with NDP governments are doing it, and under my leadership we can show all of Canada that we will do it too.

New Democrats can build on our breakthrough in Quebec and carry the Orange Wave right across Canada.
Our NDP must work to grow our support in every region, including in what are now Conservative strongholds like Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Stephen Harper believes in pitting one region of our country against another. I don't.
We can bring Canadians from coast to coast to coast together with a plan that contains practical ideas that make life better for families, not harder.
We can present a plan that creates jobs, builds and improves our hospitals and schools and gives every family, regardless of where they live, hope for a better future.
By speaking to families and delivering new ideas to meet their needs, we can inspire young people, earn the trust of Canadians and elect strong NDP MPs in the places we need to win.

Over recent decades, the NDP has modernized internally and embraced progressive policies that showed we understood contemporary realities. These, along with Quebecers' openness to progressive federalism, achieved a historic breakthrough last May. Taking the next step means our party must continue to look forward.
We need to continue to reflect a changing country in a changing world. More of us live in cities, the world is more interdependent and the nature of work is changing. These technological and demographic shifts don't mean progressive principles need adjusting, but they do need applying to new challenges and realities.

In order to win the next federal election, the NDP needs to prove to Canadians that they can have confidence in the NDP to grow the economy and manage the nation's finances.

My goal is to bring new politics to Canada by electing an NDP government in 2015. We need a clear vision that recognizes that greater equality is key to our future as a country.
We must begin by earning the continued support of the many Quebecers and other Canadians who supported us for the first time in the last election and the many Canadians who have supported us over the years.
We need to gain the support of Canadians in my region of the Prairies and other regions throughout Canada. We need to reach out to new Canadians. We need to engage young people.
We need to be open to all progressive Canadians. I believe we can do this and be faithful to our principles as a party.
We also need to build on our experience in government provincially and offer Canadians affordable, progressive government that is consistent with their values.